Silicon Valley has been the world's epicenter of innovation and progress for the better part of the last two decades. Technology, talent, and capital have all converged in the area between San Francisco and San Jose, creating giant technology companies that hire well-educated, highly-paid, and tech-driven employees by the thousands. The explosion in work population in this area has presented serious challenges to the area's housing market, as limited geography complicates an already difficult terrain.

Unfortunately, as is often the case, there is a cost to progress. For lower-income, working-class families, the high cost of living in the Bay Area can present several challenges. Affordable daycare is often hard to find, lagging infrastructure causes hours in traffic delays, and affordable rent — because the average home price of over $800,000 is completely out of reach for most average wage-earners — is nearly impossible. For individuals and families who already live within limited means, one small series of events — an unexpected medical bill, a death in the family, a serious illness, a vehicle malfunction — can force hard-working people to the brink of homelessness. These mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, spouses, partners, cousins, sons, daughters, grandmothers, and grandfathers become vulnerable to many elements out of their control, and often find themselves trapped.